The National Security Bureau is asking the public to avoid speculation about a missing soldier’s motive to leave his post and cautions against falling into China’s propaganda trap.
The soldier was last seen on Thursday on Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen islands, located near China’s coast. On Monday Taiwan’s authorities said he has been found in China.
National Security Bureau’s Deputy Director Chen Chin Kuang (陳進廣), said at a legislature hearing that the missing soldier could become China’s propaganda poster child.
Chen said the bureau is being extra vigilant in monitoring China’s messaging regarding the soldier, especially on the internet.
KMT lawmaker Chen Yu-chen (陳玉珍) said on Tuesday that the soldier is safe and healthy in China’s coastal city of Xiamen. She added that the soldier’s reason for leaving his post was mainly personal and she cannot disclose it.
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) says the ministry does not want to make assumptions based on rumors and speculation. He adds that while there’s no plan to reorganize troops stationed on Kinmen islands, the defense ministry is treating this incident as a lesson learned.
Chiu promised to take a hard look at the military discipline and management on Taiwan’s outlying islands.